macruridæ

pl. [Mod. Lat. macrur ( us ); Lat. fem.pl.adj. suff. -idæ.] Ichthy .: A family of deep-sea Ganoids, distributed over all oceans, in great abundance. About forty species are known. The body terminates in a long, compre ed, tapering tail, covered with spiny, keeled, or striated scales. One short anterior dorsal, the second very long, continued to the end of the tail; anal as long as second dorsal; no caudal. Ventrals thoraci or jugular. ( Günther .) IMG:content-0807.png:[blocks in formation] *măc-tā-tion, s. [Lat. mactatio , from mactatus , pa.par. of mac to =to sacrifice.] The act of killing a victim in sacrifice; a sacrifice. "Here they call Cain's offering, which is described and allowed to be the first fruits of the ground only, a sacri. fice or mactation ."- Shukford : On the Creation. (Pref.) măc-tā-tõr, s. [Lat., from mactatus , pa. par. of mac to =to sacrifice, to kill.] A murderer, a killer. măc-tra, s. [Gr.,=a kneading-trough.] 1. Zool .: The typical genus of the family Mactridsæ (q. v.). The foot is large and tongue-shaped; the siphons are united and fringed; the shell is nearly equilateral. Habitat, sandy coasts, where they burrow just below the surface. One hundred and twenty-five recent species are known. They are world-wide in their distribution, and especially abundant within the tropics. 2. Palæont.: Thirty species are known, from the Lias onward.